Introduction

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) places a responsibility on the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to ensure that Child Protection Files are kept up to date. In addition KCSIE states that all concerns, discussions and decisions made, and the reasons for those decisions, should be recorded in writing. As this will also help if/when responding to any complaints about the way a case has been handled by the school. 

Records should include: 

• a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern 

• details of how the concern was followed up and resolved, and 

• a note of any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome.

In reaction to incidents of child-on-child abuse, KCSIE states that schools should record and be able to justify their decision-making by also recording reasons for their decisions. Where risk assessments are required, these should also be recorded, uploaded to My Concern and kept under review.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (and any deputies) are most likely to have a complete safeguarding picture and be the most appropriate person to advise on the response to safeguarding concerns. This could be one of the following options:

• Signposting to appropriate support either internally or externally

• Completing an Early help referral or assessment

• Marking a referral to statutory services for example if the child is in need or is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

Detailed records will assist and support DSLs in meeting their key responsibilities to respond appropriately to concerns and to keep their communities safer. Effective record keeping will also support monitoring, risk-assessment and planning for learners, and will enable informed and timely referrals to be made when necessary. 

It is important for children to receive the right help at the right time to address safeguarding risks, prevent issues escalating and to promote children’s welfare. Research and local child safeguarding practice reviews have repeatedly shown the dangers of failing to take effective action. An Analysis of Serious Case Reviews published between 2014 and 2017 highlighted examples of poor practice which in included:

• Failing to act on and refer the early signs of abuse and neglect

• Poor record keeping

• Failing to listen to the views of the child

• Failing to re-assess concerns when situations do not improve

• Not sharing information with the right people within and between agencies

• Sharing information too slowly

• A lack of challenge to those who appear to not be taking action.

The annual review of all Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs) published in 2021 further emphasises the importance of quality and timely referrals, using clear and accurate language and ensuring that all concerns are considered in the context of a child's wider history.

Aims and Rationale

This toolkit aims to address the themes highlighted above by defining clear and consistent protocols for recording, categorising and resolution of safeguarding concerns across Initio Learning Trust to:

• Enhance the quality and consistency of recording and reporting

• Enable clear data analysis at school and Trust level, to identify and respond proactively to emerging trends

• Facilitate and capture evidence of regular quality assurance of safeguarding concerns

• Support DSLs in maintaining robust oversight over the management of concerns.